Hoyts Esquire Theatre

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Hoyts Esquire Theatre 238 Bourke Street, Melbourne, VIC – South Pacific in TODD-AO – 1959

Todd-AO (70mm format) is a practical scientific system developed by American Optical Company engineers under the direction of Dr. Brian O’Brien, to bring into being an idea envisioned by Michael Todd. The goal was to develop “a motion picture system that would photograph action in very wide angle … with one camera … on one strip of film … to be projected from a single machine … on a very large screen … with a quality so perfect that the audience will be part of the action, not just passive spectators.”

South Pacific at the Esquire *

South Pacific at the Esquire was the first 70mm production to screen in Melbourne. This required a new larger screen (less curved) and a new wall to wall proscenium. A special stage curtain was installed featuring a motive of hibiscus flowers. The rake was steeper & the floor of the projection booth had to raised. Hoyts installed Philips DP70 projectors with Ashcraft lamp-houses.

Print wear *

It took three prints of South Pacific to complete the season, the first screened 946 performances, the second 795, and the third finished with 132 performances.

Record number of performances *

South Pacific screened from (Feb 1959 to Nov 1961) that’s 146 weeks for a total of 1873 performances. Screening with South Pacific was a short demo featurette called “The Miracle of Todd-AO".

Contributed by Greg Lynch –